and allies in afghanistan. many prominent people like ahmad wali karzai have been killed in kandahar and the north. protecting those people has been extremely difficult. i think that is the concern. absent the feeling of stability, not just for power brokers and warlords, but for ordinary citizens. >> is the political threat crowing? >> when the senior officials add up the numbers, it is about the same as last year, but there are some very -- the most powerful, the police chief, warlord, if you will, in the north, was recently assassinated. that sent shivers in the north, where i also visited. there is a greater stability, but there is a sense that the people who are in charge are targets. >> david ignatius, thank you for joining us. now to the hacking scandal which continues to spread in great britain. "news of the worldwent even further = = -- "news of the world" went even further, according to gordon brown. >> there is some flash photography. >> here is gordon at downing street. on the top is rebekah brooks.